Counting sorter for perforated cards



1 1,643,386 Sept. 27, 1927- w, w. LASKER COUNTING SORTER FOR PERFORATED CARDS Filed Nov. 10, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nae/afar William Mia zwr MGM Wiawfi Winesses;

W. W. LASKER COUNTING SORTER FOR PERFORATED CARDS Sept. 27,1927.

Filed Nov. 10, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 j fizuezziar W1! I [am fifl aka), B 2153 way, L M

Riff/20.5565

1,643,386 P 1927' w. w. LASKER COUNTING SORTER FOR PERFORATED CARDS Filed NOV- 1 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patent ed Sept 27, 19271 UNITED STATE WI LIAM WJLASVKER, or BROOKLYN, NEW .YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSiGN-d MENTS, T rownas ACCOUNTING MACHINE CORPORATION, or NEW YORK, N. Y., 7

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

couiv'rmo sontrnia r03 PERFORATED CARDS.

Application filed November 10, 1919. SerialNo. 336,829.

This invention relates to machines for all the cards as they are presented for sorting, and for counting the cards as they are passed to the individual groups.

Such a machine is shown in the U.,S. Patent No. 1,312,807, issued to JamesPowers, Aug. 12th, 1919. a e

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve generally the construction of such machines. Another is to adopt a count-' in-g mechanism for use with [sorting ma- 1 V by way of example one of many possible emchines similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,315,370, issued September 9 th,

As is well known to those skilled in this art, it is desirable to check up the operation of group counters with the grand-totalcounter 38 or the sub-total counter, This'isfdone by adding the'totals of all of the group counters and comparing the result with the number shown by the grand-total for. subtotal counter as the case may be. When these agree, it isassumed thatno error has 'been'made. \Vith similar arrange ments heretofore in use, the grand-total and sub-total counters were operatedat each cycle of the machine, Whether a card was in the pin-box or not, thus show ing a total which did not always represent j the number of cards analyzed, and which therefore did not always agree with the sumof the numbers shown by the group counters. Therefore, a particular object "of the invention is to provide means for cou nt-' ing the actual cardspresented for sorting without stoppingthe machine ifla card is not presented or is misplaced,as contrasted with devices which merely coun'tthecomplete cycles of the sorting machine'during 1ts operation and stop the machine if a card is presented wrongly or not at all, the new arrangement no counting is made by the totalcounter unless a card isactually properly'presented for sorting and the machine is not stop ed in the midst of a run.--

Still another 0 ject of the invention isto provide improvements in the arrangement whereby the series of in'divid'ual counters and the counter for taking the sub-totals can be quickly and simultaneously" zeroized to the exclusion of the grand-total counter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for disdeflectors and the pin box .ters 5 and abling the group counters and the sub to'tal and grand-total counters when it is desired Other objects ofthe inventionwill appear" as the descriptionproceeds; and while'herein minute details of the invention are de- 5 PATENT o ica; I

scribed, the invention is not limited to these,

since many, and various changes may be made wlthout departing from the sc'opeof the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, s howing bodiments of the invention,;

Figure 1 a f agmental plan the counters and their connections with the Fig. 2 is a fragniental side elevation showmg the counters, the pin box and intermediate connections; I a

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentalside elepin box and total-counters;

va'tionshowing the connection between the showing Fig. 4; is an enlarged fragment-a1 sideele- V vationshowing the connection between the.

pin box and total-counters in inoperative po- Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectional-view show-y mg group counter connections andthezeroizer for the counters; he t F1g. 6 1s a.v fragmental perspective view showing the meansfor disabling the coun-f ..F1g. 7 isca actuatingarmfl y n 1 Reference is madcap-to the above mentioned patents fora-general understanding of sorting'machines andcard counters; and particular reference is made to'my said pats entfor an understanding ofthe construction and operationof a sortingmachine to which my present invention may bezapplied. i

In my said patent there is shown a sortingmachine having an analyzerfram'e, atdeflector supporting frame secured to and ,for-, ward ofthe analyzer frame, and an analye ide elevation offa counter zer comprising a vertically reciprocatory pin box mounted on said analyzer frame-'Iand constitutin a part of the analyzer into which cards areyfed-to be, analyzed and sorted. Deflectorshafts mounted transverse to sald sup ortmg frame are provided with deflectors or deflecting, into ap ropriate compartments, cards conveyed om the M analyzer between lower guide rollers on said guide rollers resting on 4 pend from said supportingframe 11 and carry deflector shafts 15 mounted in said brackets. transverse to said supporting frame, said shafts initurn carrying deflectors16. I v

Lower uide rollers 18 (Fig. 6) are mounted'on said shafts, and upper guide rollers 20 rest on said lower rollers. Between these upper-and lower guide rollers, cards pass from said analyzer and are deflected by the deflectors downwardly into appropriate compartments as shown in 111 said patent.

A horizontal'supporting p ate 23 (Fig. 5) is fixed on said frame ll and dis sed over some of said shafts 15 and provi ed with a series of elongated openings 24 (Fig. 1) above the level of said shafts. An upturned actuating arm 25 (Fig. 6) is fixed on the endof each shaft respectively, some of which project through the corresponding elongated openings 24. These arms are provided with anarcuate upper slot 27 (Fig. 7) each having the axis of its shaft 15 as its center ofcurvature.

A seriesof group counters 28 (Fig. 1), of ordinary construction, are mounted on said late 23, one for each shaft; and each counter is provided at its inner end with an upturned counting crank'29 (Fig. 6) having a perforation in its outer end and spring pressed to normal position ready for actuation as is usual with such counters. A'counting link 30 connects each counting crank with its corresponding actuating arm 25 and each comprises an outwardly hooked end portion 31 engaging in saidperforation of the counting crank, and an inwardly hooked end portion 32 engagin in said arcuate slot 27 whereby when the deflecting a card downwardly into the comr partment, as explained in'my-said patent,

the counters may be actuated. Since said 'arcuateslot 27 loosely receives the inwardly turned portion 32 it is thereby adapted to permit the armto oscillate during deflection when the countingcranks are held stationary in actuated non-counting position for a purpose which will be explained. Collars 34 and Y35 secured on the extremities of saidend portions hold the links in place. 7

eflector shafts are actuated in a' direction which is clockwise on Fig. 6, for

' 1Z1 the deflector is only actuated b a card in'vthe analyzer, andas such card is eflected to its compartment by the actuated deflector, it will be seen that each time a card is deflected into any compartment, the corresponding counter is actuated and the number of cards passing into such compartment is thereby counted.

A subtotal counter 37 (Fig. 1) and a grand-total counter 38 are provided for counting the cards analyzed in the'analyzer. The means for actuating those total counters will now be described.

At one end ofhe pin box 12 (Fig. 1) there is provided an inwardly pointed ing 40 having therein a vertical guide bore 41 in which a plunger rod 42 (Fig. 3) is vertically slidable. This rod is provided at its lower end with a feeler plate 44 (Figs. 1 and 3 adaptedto engage over an edge of the card to be sorted when the card is properly placed inthe analyzer. A spring 45 disposed on said rod between said lug and feeler plate is adapted, when the pin box is depressed, to press said feeler plate to a normal position against a card in the analyzer; but if no card be present in the analyzer, the spring will depress'the plate still lower to an abnormal position as shown in Fig. 4. An elbow lever 46, pivoted at its elbow part on said frame 10 near the receiving or rear side of the analyzer, has an upturned active arm 47, and a motive arm 48, the latter engaging under said feeler plate 44, therebyto rock said active arm forward to an abnormal position, as in Fig. 4, when said plate is lowered to abnormal position as explained.

A counting lever has its forward end pivotally connected to a depending link 51 pivotally connected to the rear end of an in termediate lever 52 intermediately fulcrumed as at 53 (Fig. 2) near the rear end of said supporting frame 11. A shoulder plate 55 fixed to the forward side of the pin box 12 is provided near one end with a shoulder slot 56 receiving said counting lever 50 and having a shoulder 57 at its upper part. Said counting lever is' pivoted at its rearend to said upturned active arm 47 and is provided at its intermediate part with an abutment 60 adapted when said active arm is held by the spring 53 in normal rearward position, as when a card is in the analyzer, to engage under said shoulder 57, as in Fig. 3, to be depressed and actuated on the downward movement of the pin box. When the active arm -.is rocked forwardly to abnormal. position,

as when there is no card in the analyzer, said abutment will escape from said shoulder and thereby be free from such actu'atiomas in Fig. 4. v V

The sub-total counter 37 is-at the rear of said series of group counters; and the grandtotal counter 38 is disposed to the rear of the sub-total counter and has an upturned counting crank 62 (Figs. 3 and 6). The sub-total counter has a triangular counting crank 63 having a lower rear pivot point 64 linked, by the link 65 (Fig. 3), to the for-- Ward endof said intermediate lever 52. The

triangular crank has also an upper pivot point 66 (Fig. 6): above the counting shaft 68 of the sub-total counter/ A synchronizing link 70 connects the upper end of said upturned counting crank 62 with said upper pivot point 66 and is provided with a downturned hook 71 (Fig. 3) at its forward end for a purposewhich will be explained.

From the foregoing it will be. seenthat when there is a card in the analyzer and the pin box is lowered, the card holds the feeler plate up and the active arm 47 and the counting lever back, as in. F ig. 3, so that a downward movement of the p n box, causes the shoulder 57 to depress the counting lever and raise the link 65 and rock forward the triangular crank and the upturned crank 62 ment 60 escapes the shoulder 57; and the counting lever 50 and the total counterswill not be actuated.

An important function of the machine herein described is that it permits the cooperation of the group counters 28 with the grand-total counter 38 or the sub-total counter 37 for the checking up of their accuracy. This is done by adding the totals of all of the group counters and comparing the sum with the number shown by the grandtotal counter 38 or sub-total counter 37 as the case may be. When these agree, it is assumed that no error has been made. With similar arrangements heretofore in use, the grand-total and sub-total counters were operated at each cycle of the machine, whether a card was in the pin-box or not, thus showing a total which did not always represent the number of cards analyzed.

The counters are placed close together on the plate 23 for reasons of economy of construction and ease of observation; and the plate 23 need extend only part of the length of the frame 11, and over some ofthe shafts 15 as hereinbefore stated.

At times, as after a run of cards, it may be desirable to zeroize all of the group counters and the sub-total counter, and special means for doing this have been devised. A

zeroizinggear 73 (Fig. 2). is provided at the outer end of each group counter and the subtotal counter. Depending at the outer edge of said supporting plate 23 (Fig. 5) there are provided supporting brackets 74 on one of Y which is mounted a drive gear shaft 75. Grooved wheels 76 are carried by the other of said brackets. A drive gear 77 (Fig. 2) and a drive crank 78 are mounted on said gearshaft; and a zeroizing rack 79 slidably carried onsaid wheels in the grooves thereof is provided at its upper edge with rack teeth 80 engaging said zeroizing gears 73,

andat its lower edge with rack teeth 81 engagmgsaid drive gear 77. When it is desired t0 zeroize the groupand sub-total counters, it is only necessarytorevolve the crank 78 backward and then forward until the'counters are zeroized. A separate zero- -Fig. 1) is provided on theou ter end of the grand-total counter, since thiscounteris.not'usually zeroized at zcroized after longer intervals, for instance, at the close of a day or at the end of the Whole job.

the end of each group-run, but is usually Sometimes it is not necessary or desirable to have the counters to count, and for such circumstances, means are provided for disabling or cutting out of operation all of the counters. Forward and rear guide bolts 87 and 88 (Fig. 2) are mounted on the outer face of said supporting frame over said supporting plate, and carrying thereon a horizontal disabling bar 90 provided with guide slots 91 received on said guide bolts, and with receiving slots 92 (Fig. 6) loosely receiving said outturned ends 31 of thecou'nting links, being thereby disposed between the links 30 and the counting arms 29. A.con-' necting pin 93 at-the rear of said bar is adapted to engage said downturned book 71, so when the bar is drawn forward (leftward of Fig. 2), the synchronizing link 70 is also drawn forward. A detent pin 94 (Fig. 2)

is provided on the disabling bar; and a disabling lever 95 pivotally forward guide bolt 87 is cam-lug 96 adapted to engage and look upon said detent pin 94 and cause said disablingbar and said synchronizing link to draw and hold the counting cranks 29, 62 and 63 forward to non-counting position. When the cranks are thusdrawn, the abutment 57 is held down and the counting lever 50 cannot be actuated by the downward movement of 'the pin box. Also the cranks 29 and links 30 are held forward and cannot be actuated by the actuating arms 25,- the slots 27 permitting the actuating arms, the shafts 15 and the deflectors .to oscillate normally when the links 30' are thus drawn forward. When the bar 90 is in released position, as shown by full lines of Fig. 2, the synchronizing link 70 may still rock backward or forward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Also, because of the length of the receiving slot 92 (F ig. 6) the counting cranks 29 may oscillate normally.

mounted on said I provided with a I claim:

'1. In combination, a reciproeatory element; a feeler ada ted to press against a card if presented tiereto, or to' move to a different position if a card be not presented; an intermediate lever operated by said feeler, but normally, disconnected therefrom if a card be presented; a counting member moved by the intermediate lever when a card is presented to position to be actuated by said element and when the card is absent to escape from such actuation; and a counter operatively connected with the counting member.

2.- In a sorting device having a plurality of compartments and a deflector for each compartment, a counter for each compartment having a crank;'a connection between a deflector and the crank of the counter for its compartment comprising a slot; a dis-v abling bar provided with slots loosely receiving said connectionsbetwecn thedeflectors and the cranks of the counters; and means for moving the disabling bar and the cranks of the counters to non-counting position.

3. In a sorting device having aplurality of compartments and a deflector and a counter for each compartment, a pin box operatively connected with said'deflectors and said counters whereby a card may cause a deflector to be set and the corresponding counter to be operated, and means comprising a disabling lever for disconnecting said gin box and said" counter, whereby said pin ox may cause said deflectors to operate inde pendently of said counters.

' WILLIAM WV. LASKER. 

